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McLaren Automotive’s in-house innovation team developed the ART (Automated Rapid Tape) technology to solve one of the key challenges in composites manufacturing — producing complex, high-quality components sustainably and at production rate. Originally designed for McLaren’s supercar portfolio to manufacture ultra-lightweight, highly loaded aerodynamic parts, the ART system has now been industrialized by Cygnet Texkimp and, through a licensing agreement, will be made available to multiple industries, including aerospace, defense, aviation, wind energy, and industrial applications.
McLaren commissioned Cygnet Texkimp to scale the technology into a production-ready system. A prototype ART machine is already operational at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) producing structural components for McLaren’s supercars, including the W1 Ultimate Supercar. An industrial-specification ART unit is under construction at Cygnet Texkimp’s Innovation Centre and plans are in place to install the unit at MCTC in November 2025 to expand production capacity.
The ART system enables rapid and precise deposition of dry composite tape at speeds up to 2.5 m/s, achieving material utilization rates of up to 95% while minimizing waste. By allowing tailored fiber orientation, the technology supports anisotropic stiffness—enhancing rigidity or flexibility where needed. ART provides real-time monitoring, ensuring all components meet specifications and improving efficiency and consistency.
Luke Vardy, Cygnet Texkimp CEO, said, “ART combines McLaren’s extensive knowledge and experience of highly specialized carbon fiber engineering with our world-leading fiber handling and processing expertise and understanding of mechanics and controls. The technology unlocks enormous potential for large-scale global markets to access the benefits of a highly specialized carbon fiber and composites manufacturing solution first developed for aerospace and high performance automotive-grade composites. It is relevant to many industries for the manufacture of composite structures that are optimized for superior performance.” A full-scale demonstration machine will be installed at Cygnet Texkimp’s Innovation Centre in early 2026 for customer trials.
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